VOA常速英语2016--美国力挺非洲 称己为其永远的伙伴（在线收听）

Young African Leaders Iniative 美国力挺非洲 称己为其永远的伙伴

Sub-Saharan Africa is on the move. It is one of the world's fastest-growing regions, is home to a middle class projected to grow to over one billion, has the world's most youthful population, and is more connected by technology and smartphones than ever before.

撒哈拉以南的非洲地区正在行动。该地区是全球发展最快的地区之一，有一群数量即将过十亿的中产阶级，有世界上最年轻的人口，并且比以前任何时候与科技和智能手机的联系都更加紧密。

A key to continued growth and prosperity in the region is to support and empower a new generation of leaders. That's why the United States launched the Young African Leaders Initiative, or YALI, six years ago. The goal is to connect future leaders with each other, with the United States, and to resources and to networks that can help them flourish as leaders in business, government, and civil society.

该地区经济持续发展繁荣的关键就是支持并给予新一代领导人更多的权利。这也是六年前美国启动非洲青年领袖计划（YALI）的原因。启动该计划的目标是将非洲未来领袖与美国联系起来，同时让该地区能接触到资源和网络，以帮助他们成为商业、政治、民间社会的领袖。

In a recent speech at a YALI town hall meeting for the Mandela Washington Fellows President Barack Obama announced a new executive order to support American companies interested in doing business in Africa. This fall, the U.S. will host the second U.S.-Africa Business Forum on trade and investment. In addition, the U.S. will continue advancing the Power Africa initiative to bring cleaner electricity to more than 60 million African homes and businesses.

在最近的曼德拉奖学金总统创业峰会上，奥巴马总统宣布一项新命令，以支持有意在非洲开展业务的美国企业。今年秋天，美国将举行第二场美国-非洲商业论坛。此外，美国会继续推进非洲电力计划，给非洲的6千多万家庭和企业带来更清洁的电力。

Under YALI, the Mandela Washington Fellows Program has already brought 2,000 outstanding young Africans to the United States to participate in six week leadership institutes and a Presidential Summit. Across Africa more than 250,000 people have joined the YALI network, through which they gain access to online courses and a network of peers and mentors.

在非洲青年领袖计划的框架下，曼德拉奖学金计划已向美国引进2000名杰出非洲年轻人，参与为期六周的领袖学院和总统峰会。欧洲上下有25万人参加了非洲青年领袖计划。通过该计划，他们参与到在线课程和学生与导师的体系中。

Thousands of young people have been trained in leadership, entrepreneurship, and networking at four Regional Leadership Centers located in Dakar, Accra, Nairobi, and Pretoria.

成千上万的年轻人在达喀尔、阿克拉、内罗毕、比勒陀利亚的4个地区领导力中心接受了关于领导力、企业家精神、网络构建方面的培训。

A current Mandela Washington Fellow is human rights activist and lawyer Geline Fuko of Tanzania. She developed Tanzania's first database of constitutional resources, connecting her government to more Tanzanians so they could understand the law, their rights, and their responsibilities.

本次的曼德拉奖学金获得者为坦桑尼亚的一位人权活动家兼律师热利纳。她研发了坦桑尼亚第一个宪法资源数据库，将坦桑尼亚政府和更多的平民百姓联系到一起。这样，他们能了解法律、权利和义务。

The United States believes in the potential of individuals like Ms. Fuko and thousands more like her not only in Africa but in Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Europe. As President Obama said, “You should know that you'll always have a partner and friend in the United States of America.”

美国坚信，像热力纳这样有潜力的人还有很多，不止在非洲，还在东南亚、美洲和欧洲。正如奥巴马所言，“你要知道，美国永远是你的伙伴和朋友”。